John haedman



(No Mofiel.)

J. HARDMAN.

Piano Forte.

No. 229,820. Patented July 13, 1880.

- j/z/zzzi/ifi' PETERS, FHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER WLSNINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HARDMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HARDMAN, DOW- LING &; PEOK, OF SAME PLACE.

PIANO-F0 RTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,820, dated July 13, 1880. Application filed April 21, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HARDMAN, a citizen of thelUnited States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano- Fortes. and particularly adapted to upright ones, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement relates to a novel arrangement of the pedal-posts, which are situated in the lower edge of the base-rail of upright piano-fortes or in the lyre of horizontal ones, the wood of which is partly cut away to 'receive and support the treadle attachment. This location, being in the center of the base and in the front of the instrument, is a most exposed part, and usually presents an unfinished appearance to the eye as compared with the other cabinet-work, besides having other objectionable features.

The toe of the boot is liable to bear against and abrade away the surface of the wood, defacing it and causing a constantly increasing roughness, that catches the toe of the boot and embarrasses the proper working of the pedals. As the pedals oscillate on pins within the rail bearing on the narrow and exposed pin between the pedal-posts, this unprotected pin is liable to be broken away, and any defacement of the part is detrimental to the appearance of the piano.

Several difierent improvements have been employed to obviate more or less of the enumerated difficulties, several of which present obstructions to the free action of the foot. I have endeavored to accomplish all the needed features by a cheap, simple, and efficient attachment, which is at the same time ornamental, where ornament is greatly needed, and it also strengthens a part now necessarily weak.

My improvements consist in combining a metallic front with the pedals, so as to fit around the pedal-post to strengthen the 'part and allow their free and noiseless working therein, by a damper-shielding of felt, leather, or other proper material, and which I designate as a pedal-guard plate. (See drawings.)

Figure 1 represents a front elevation; Fig. 2, a top view; and Fig. 3 shows a vertical section through (c x, Fig. 1.

a is the rail or base; b b, the posts,- 0 c, the felt dampers d d, the treadles, and c the guard-plate, secured fast to the rail, covering and protecting the rail fronting the feet and strengthening the cut-away part, as described.

The advantages of my improvement may be briefly given as follows: It presents a hard metal surface without projections to catch or trip the action of the boot-toes by friction. It requires no new motion of the foot in position or action in working the pedals, facilitating a smooth delicate pressure. It protects the central pin between the treadles from injury. It is not defaced by the foot; but, in place of abraded wood-work, it presents a highly-ornamental appearance, with all its usefulness. It is cheap or inexpensive in fabric and application. The damper-pads keep silent the pedalaction. It cannot be deranged or ever need renewal or repair.

For reasons before set forth, I do not claim, broadly, a device for protecting a piano-case about the pedal-tread but \Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A metal plate cut away, as set forth, to fit aroundthe post for the seat and action of the pedal lei 'ers, such plate being secured against the base or lyre of a piano-forte, substantially as and in the manner set forth.

2. The combination of a guard-plate, c, as described, secured to the base or lyre of a piano-forte, with the lever-posts Z) and levers (l, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN HARDMAN.

Witnesses:

J. B. HYDE, THos. J. SHULTZ. 

